Apparatus for treating and winding up spun filaments

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for treating and winding up the filaments of groups of filaments discharged from a row of spinnerets located in a vertical plane, has treating and take-up units whose width is less than the distance between two adjacent spinnerets between which the units are located. Each unit has treating means transporting groups of filaments from the respective spinnerets in a direction transverse to the plane of the spinnerets to wind up spools which separately wind up each treated filament of a group of filaments discharged by the same spinneret.

United States Patent 11 1 Ranch Apr. 2, 1974 [54] APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND 3,719,442 3/1973 Schip ers et alf. 425/66 WINDING p SPUN FILAMENTS 1,503,381 7/1924 Remington 242/355 R X l,8()8,573 6/193] Remington et al 242/355 R X Inventor: Ernst Bauch, Bordesholm, Germany 2,249,988 7 1941 Thomas.. 242 355 R [73] Assignee: Neumunstersche Maschinen- Und izggigg 2 1 at fig i:

Apparatebau Gesellschafi NeumunSter/HolStem Germany Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spicer, Jr. [22] Filed: May 10, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [21] Appl. No.: 251,974 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for treating and winding up the fila- Fm'elgn pp Prwrlty Data ments of groups of filaments discharged from-a row of May 14 1971 Germany 2123979 spinnerets located in a vertical plane, has treating and take-up units whose width is less than the distance be- [52] U.S.-Cl 425/66, 425/71, 242/35. 5 R tween two adjacent spinnerets between which the [51] D0ld 5/00 units are located. Each unit has treating means trans- [58] Field of Search 425/66, 325, 71, 68; porting groups of filaments from the respective spin- 57/157 R; 242/35.5 R nerets in a direction transverse to the plane of the spinnerets to wind up spools which separately wind up [56} References Cited e'ach treated filament of a group of filaments dis- UMTED STATES PATENTS charged by the same spinneret.

3,355,116 11/1967 Conrad 242/355 R X 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 21914 3 801 242 sum 3 or 4 APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND WINDING UP SPUN FILAMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the manufacture of synthetic yarns by various spinning operations, a great number of spinnerets and corresponding spinning cylinders is arranged in one orseveral rows. At the upper end of each spinning cylinder, the spinnerets with one or several nozzles are located, and below the spinning cylinders, take-up devices are disposed which have transporting and take-up means for the yarns, which may include a stretching device.

In order to save space, the spinnerets and spinning cylinders are arranged at the smallest possible distance, for example distances of 600, 750, and 900 mm are conventional. Such spacing limits the width of the takeup devices, since the same have to be arranged in a row, with the longitudinal direction of the respective units parallel to the vertical plane in which the spinnerets and spinning cylinders are located. Particularly, if a stretching device is to be used, two take-up devices can be provided for the filaments at most.

In order to separately wind up a great number of individual filaments, several, for example four or eight packages have been wound up side-by-side. Such an arrangement has the disadvantage that the individual spools must be very narrow, so that only a limited length of filaments can be wound up. Furthermore, difficulties arise in apparatus of the prior art inasmuch as all filaments or yarns which have to be wound up on a common spool, must be simultaneously inserted into the respective guide of the changing device. Furthermore, a disturbance at one filament influences all other filaments wound up on the same roller, since there is generally no free access to the filament guides and the take-up rollers, which are located on the sideof the apparatus remote from the place of the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of prior. art apparatus, and to provide an apparatus for treating and winding up the filaments discharged from spinnerets which is space saving and can be easily operated and controlled.

With these objects in view, the present invention is concerned with an improvement of apparatus of the type in which filaments are produced by spinnerets arranged in one or two rows, which apparatus includes take-up means in which the filaments are individually wound up. In accordance with the invention, the treating and take-up units are arranged so that the longitudinal direction thereof isperpendicular to the vertical plane passing through the spinning cylinders and spinnerets. In such an arrangement, the longitudinal extension of the take-up device is not limited by the spaces between the spinnerets, which do not have to correspond to the longitudinal extension of the units, but to the width of the same. Each treating and take-up unit can support the treating means which transport the filaments in longitudinal direction of the respective unit, and'also the wind-up spools, The number of wind-up spools which can be provided in each unit is practically unlimited. For example, when eight monofilaments or multi-filaments are spun by one spinneret, each of the filaments can be individually wound up on a wind-up spool.

1f the spinnerets and spinning cylinders are disposed in two closely spaced rows, it is advantageous to provide treating and take-up units for one side of each row. In the usual arrangement of spinnerets and spinning cylinders along one row, it is preferred to dispose the treating and take-up units on both sides of the vertical plane passing through the spinnerets and spinning cylinders. If the treating and take-up units are alternately disposed on oppositesides' of the plane passing through the spinnerets, su'fficient room for the operator is available even if the spinnerets and units are closely spaced along the row of spinnerets.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a separate take-up device, each including a wind-up spool, is provided for each filament. The axes of the spools are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the units, and parallel to the plane passing through thespinnerets. The axes of the transporting and treating rollers are parallel to the axes of the wind-up spools, and consequently also parallel to the vertical plane passing through the spinning cylinders and spinnerets. In order to guide the individual filaments in such a manner that theydo not interfere with each other, and particularly do not cause breakage during an irregular wind-up operation, guide rollers are provided for the filaments which are so arranged that different filaments extending between adjustable guide means and portions of different rollers, are located in angula'rly I tion of-the guide roller farthest spaced from the guide means being the highest engaging portion for a filament. The axes of the guide rollers are parallel to the axes of the transporting rollers and wind-up spools.

If a stretching of the filaments directly upon extrusion from the spinneret is possible, it' is advantageous to provide a stretching device of known construction as part of the treating means of each treating and take-up unit, and to simultaneously stretch all filaments spun in a spinning cylinderpln order to avoid heat losses during the operation, and for facilitating the threading in of the filaments, the stretching device is provided with a cover, which can be opened. The sealing at the outlet for the filaments, may be a labyrinth seal,-into which cooling air may be blown, if required.

For facilitating the start of the spinning operation, the treating and take-up units are advantageously provided with suction devices. At the beginning of the spinning operation, the filaments are taken into these suction devices, and threaded through the inlet rollers only when they haveobtained a sufficient quality. The injector described in the German 08. 1,710,641, or the device described in the German GM 1,981,944 may be used. Another suction device may be provided at the other end of the treating and take-up unit in order to suck the filaments after having passed through the stretching device, so that the filaments can be individually placed on the wind-up spools.

It is advantageous to provide on both sides of a treating and take-up unit, treating rollers and wind-up spools for stretching and winding up groups of filaments supplied by two spinning cylinders. Such arrangement requires that the width of each unit is less than the spacing between adjacent spinning cylinders and spinnerets.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention. itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together. with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following dey scription of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 4is a schematic plan view illustrating a modified embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENTS v I A group of spun filaments35, discharged by the same spinneret, for example eight filaments, is transported bytreating means of the treating and take-up unit 1,

which is shown'in FIG. 1 in detail, and also appears in FIG. 3. As is'apparent from'FIG. 3, units 1, 36 and 37 are alternately located on opposite sides of a vertical plane 38 in whichthe spinnerets, and the groups of filaments35, 35", 40, 41, 42, 43 are disposed. Treating means and wind-up spools 30, 30 are located on opposite sides of each unit 1, 36, 37, and arearranged in a row to wind up eight filaments discharged by spinnerets in groups 35 and 39, as will now be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 1 which illustrates one side of a unit 1 provided with treating means and winda peripheral portion of one of the guide rollers 17 to 2 0, are located in angularly spaced planes, and do not interfere with each other. I 7 Since the number of guide rollers 17 to is half the number of the eight filaments of the group, two filaments are engaged by each guide roller 17 to 20 and separately connected to two wind-up means 22 to 29, the number of the wind-up means 22 to 29 being eight,

corresponding to the number of filaments in each The specific construction of each wind-up means 22 to 29 is not an object of the invention, and the constructibn of the wind-up means is only schematically shown. In each wind-up means, for example in wind-up means 22, two spools 30 and 31 are tiltable about a point 32 driven by the drive roller 33, which yields in the direction of the arrow if the diameter of the package on the just operative wind-up spool 30 or 31 inup means 22 to 29, each of which includes a wind-up spool 30 which alternates with another wind-up spool 31. The treating-means include input rollers 3 and 4 which'transport the group of filaments 35 to the pair of cooperating transporting rollers 5 and 6. Transporting roller 6 has a rubber coating and is pneumatically pressed against the driven transporting roller 5. The group offilaments runs about heating rollers 7 and 8, of which heating roller 8 is slanted to permit several loops of the group of filaments to pass about the heating rollers 7 and 8. The filaments then pass between a pair. of tiltable stretching pins 9' and pass in several loops about a pair of finishing rollers 10 and 11. The heating rollers and finishing rollers, and also the stretching area is provided with a housing 12 in order to avoid heat losses. Housing 12 can be opened for inspection. The outlet of housing 12 is provided with a labyrinth seal, through which cooling air may be blown into housing 12, if'requiredu y The group of filaments passing through the outlet'of housing 12 passes under two adjustable guide rods 15 and 16, and over a moistening roller 14 by which '-a treating agent is applied to the group of filaments. Eight filaments areassurned to be in each group, and two filaments pass from the guide rod 16 to each of the guide rollers 17, 18, 19 and 20, as schematically shown by chain lines. The guide rollers 17 to 20 are located on different horizontal levels, successive guide rollers 17 to 20 being each located. at a higher level so that the two filaments which extent between guide rod 16 and creases. The guiding of the filament is effected by the change-over means 34. The exchange of the wind-up spools and the removal of the packages may be carried out automatically or manually.

From acomparison of FIGS. 1 and 3 it will become apparent that eight wind-up spools '30 of eightwind-up means 20 to 29 are located at the same side of the frame of unit 1, as are treating means 2 to 20, for the group of discharged filaments 35. An arrangement corresponding to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is provided on the other side of the frame of the unit I, having wind-up rollers 30 arranged in two staggered rows, as best seen in FIG; 1. The treating means on this side of the unit '1 transport the group of filaments 35 to the wind-up means including the wind-up rollers 30'. In order to permit the use of treating means 2 to 20 and wind-up rollers 30 and 30 on both sides of the unit 1, the width of the'unit 1 must be slightly'less than the space between the spinnerets and the respective groups of filaments 35, 35, 40, 4 1, 42, 43 which are located in the vertical plane 38. In order to hold the distance between the spinnerets at a minimum, the units 1, 36,

37 extend perpendicularly to the plane 38 and the transporting and winding up of the filaments of each spinneret is carried out in a plane perpendicular to the. plane 38,'contrary to prior art arrangements in which longitudinal dimension of the respective unit deter mined the 'horizontalspacing of the spinnerets'and of discharged filaments.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3,the units 1, 36, 37 are alternately located on opposite sides of the vertical plane 38 in which the spinnerets are located. The treating means and wind-up rollers 30 and 30 of the unit 36 transport and wind up the groups of filaments 40 and 41 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the groups of filaments 35, 39 are transported by the treating means and wind-up rollers 30, 30' of unit l.Due to the arrangement clearly shown in FIG. 3, sufficient space is available between two units 1 and 37, for an operator controlling the operations of the machine. I g

At the start of operations, the group of filaments, for example, 35, is sucked into suction tubes 2 until the quality of the filaments is acceptable. Thereupon the group of filaments is guided between the inlet rollers 3 and 4 to the transporting rollers 5 and 6 and several times looped about the heating rollers 7 and 8 and the finishing rollers ltland 11. The leading end of the group of filaments is then inserted into the suction tube 21. These preliminary operations are carried out preferably with a device disclosed in the German G.M. 1,981 ,944.

The same device is used for laying pairs offilaments over guide rollers 17 to 20, respectively, and for attaching separate filaments of each pair to the wind-up rollers 30, or 31.

A modified arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 4 in which two parallel rows 70 and 71 of spinnerets and groups of filaments 49, 51, 53, 55, 57 and 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 are provided. The distance between the groups of filaments 49, 51 is less than the distance between the groups of filaments 51 and 53, so that the groups of filaments 49, 50, 51, 52 are arranged in a square. The spacing between groups of filaments 49, 50 and 51, 52 is slightly greater than the width of the respective units 1a and 44 which are arranged on both sides of the two parallel planes in which the spinnerets and the groups of filaments are located. it is evident that the wind-up spools 30 and the respective treating means wind up the group of filaments 49, while the wind-up spools 30 and their respective treating means wind up the group of filaments 51, as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. At the same time, the windup spools 30 and 30 and the respective treating means of unit 44, wind up the groups of filaments50 and 52, respectively. Between units la, 44 and units 45, 46, large areas are free for use by the operator of the machine. This is accomplished by placing units la, 45, 47

on one side of plane 70, and units 44, 46, 48 on the other side of plane 71, and pairs of units la, 44 aligned in planes perpendicular to the planes 70 and 71.

The distance between groups of filaments 51, 53, or 52, 54 is greater than the distance between groups of filaments 49, 51 or 50, 52, and selected in accordance with the requirement for sufficient space for the operator.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of apparatus for winding up filaments differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an apparatus for treating and winding up filaments discharged from a spinneret including treating and take-up units which are disposed transverse to a plane passing through the spinnerets, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for treating and winding up spun filaments, comprising at least one row of spaced spinnerets for discharging spaced groups of filaments, respectively, along paths located in a plane passing through said row of spinnerets; and a plurality-of treating and take-up units, each unit including at least at one side thereof treating means for transporting a group of filaments along the respective unit, and a group of wind-up spools for winding up the filaments of said group offilaments transported by said treating means, each unit being disposed between two adjacent spinnerets and having a width not greater than the distance therebetween in said plane, and a longitudinal dimension transversely to said plane whereby said spinnerets can be closely spaced in said plane by predetermined distances corresponding to the width of said units.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said group of wind-up spools is arranged in at least one row along the length of said unit.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a second row of spinnerets located in a plane parallel to said plane passing through said row of spinnerets, the spinnerets of said second row being spaced the same predetermined distances as the first row of spinnerets; and wherein pairs of said units are located on opposite sides of said parallel planes, the units of each pair cooperating with two spinnerets located in said two parallel planes, respectively.

, 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said units are alternately located on opposite sides of said plane.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said unit has two treating means and two groups'of wind-up spools located on opposite sides of said unit, respectively, in two transverse planes perpendicular to said plane, and passing through said two adjacent spinnerets, respectively; and wherein said two groups of windup spools wind up the filaments transported by said two treating means from the respective two spinnerets between which the respective unit is located; and wherein said units are alternately located on opposite sides of said plane, and cooperate with alternate pairs of said spinnerets.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wind-up spools have axes parallel to said plane passing through said spinnerets; and wherein each wind-up spool separately winds up one filament of the respective group of filaments.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each treating means includes guide means for guiding the respective group of filaments, and a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the filaments of the respective group to said wind-up spools, said guide rollers being positioned relative to said guide means so that different filaments extending between said guide means and portions of rollers have axes parallel to the axes of said wind-up spools.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the number of said guide rollers is half the number of said filaments of a group of filaments; and wherein two filaments pass over each guide roller to two wind-up spools.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said wind-up spools are located in staggered pairs in said transverse planes, the wind-up spools of each pair receiving each one filament from each guide roller; and wherein the number of guide rollers is half the number of wind-up spools.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein each said unit has two treating means and two groups of wind-up spools located on opposite sides of said unit, respectively, in two transverse planes perpendicular to said plane, and passing through said two adjacent spinnerets, respectively; and, wherein said two groups of wind-up spools wind up the filaments transported by said two treating means from the respective two spinnerets between which the respective unit is located. 

1. Apparatus for treating and winding up spun filaments, comprising at least one row of spaced spinnerets for discharging spaced groups of filaments, respectively, along paths located in a plane passing through said row of spinnerets; and a plurality of treating and take-up units, each unit including at least at one side thereof treating means for transporting a group of filaments along the respective unit, and a group of wind-up spools for winding up the filaments of said group of filaments transported by said treating means, each unit being disposed between two adjacent spinnerets and having a width not greater than the distance therebetween in said plane, and a longitudinal dimension transversely to said plane whereby said spinnerets can be closely spaced in said plane by predetermined distances corresponding to the width of said units.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said group of wind-up spools is arranged in at least one row along the length of said unit.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a second row of spinnerets located in a plane parallel to said plane passing through said row of spinnerets, the spinnerets of said second row being spaced the same predetermined distances as the first row of spinnerets; and wherein pairs of said units are located on opposite sides of said parallel planes, the units of each pair cooperating with two spinnerets located in said two parallel planes, respectively.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said units are alternately located on opposite sides of said plane.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said unit has two treating means and two groups of wind-up spools located on opposite sides of said unit, respectively, in two transverse planes perpendicular to said plane, and passing through said two adjacent spinnerets, respectively; And wherein said two groups of wind-up spools wind up the filaments transported by said two treating means from the respective two spinnerets between which the respective unit is located; and wherein said units are alternately located on opposite sides of said plane, and cooperate with alternate pairs of said spinnerets.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wind-up spools have axes parallel to said plane passing through said spinnerets; and wherein each wind-up spool separately winds up one filament of the respective group of filaments.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each treating means includes guide means for guiding the respective group of filaments, and a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the filaments of the respective group to said wind-up spools, said guide rollers being positioned relative to said guide means so that different filaments extending between said guide means and portions of different guide rollers are located in angularly spaced planes.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said guide means is located at a predetermined level; and wherein the portions of said guide rollers engaged by said filaments are located at successively higher levels, the level of said portion of the guide roller farthest spaced from said guide means being the highest.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said guide rollers have axes parallel to the axes of said wind-up spools.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the number of said guide rollers is half the number of said filaments of a group of filaments; and wherein two filaments pass over each guide roller to two wind-up spools.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said treating means include transporting rollers and treating rollers having axes parallel with the axes of said wind-up spools.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein treating means are located on opposite sides of each said unit in two transverse planes perpendicular to said plane and passing through said two adjacent spinnerets, respectively; and wherein each said unit has two longitudinal rows of wind-up spools located on opposite sides of said unit in said two transverse planes so that said guide rollers guide the filaments to said wind-up spools.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said wind-up spools are located in staggered pairs in said transverse planes, the wind-up spools of each pair receiving each one filament from each guide roller; and wherein the number of guide rollers is half the number of wind-up spools.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said unit has two treating means and two groups of wind-up spools located on opposite sides of said unit, respectively, in two transverse planes perpendicular to said plane, and passing through said two adjacent spinnerets, respectively; and wherein said two groups of wind-up spools wind up the filaments transported by said two treating means from the respective two spinnerets between which the respective unit is located. 